Roofing structure and tile therefor



Jan. 16, 1940. SWONS Er AL 2,187,404

ROOFING STRUCTURE AND TILE THEREFOR Filed June 11, 1938 35 .38 v 11v VENTORJ' C f 35 M1. new [ES/Maw:

M/va Rm, 6 BLESS/M6 A- /3 A TTORNE Y W 1- Patented Jan. 16, 1940 nnrrso stares entrant orrics noormo srancrcaa AND 'rnn 'rnansroa Walter R. Simons, Los Angeles, and Roy G. Blessing, Alhambra, Calif.

Application June ll, 1938, Serial No. 213,220

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a tile roof structure, and also to as new An eat of the invention article of manufacture.

an individual tile is to provide superior, simplified means for securing roofing tile in place upon a roof so that they will be securely maintained in their proper positions without the necessity of using stringers or cables as a part or": the securing means.

Another object is to provide roofing tile so shaped that they will, when in place upon the root, overlie each other in a more satisfactory manner, making a roof over which a person can walk with less danger of breaking the tile.

Still another object is to provide a roofing tile which can he applied to roofs satisfactorily, the roofer being the more quickly and compelled to lap is to the specified extent.

this invention a great saving is effected in the costoi the means for securing the tile in place, the tile securing means heretofore in use sometimes costing more than the tile secured thereby.

still further saving results from constructing the root in such a manner that less tile lap is requisite to insure against leakage.

Other objects, advantages and features of the invention will hereinafter appear.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates what is at present deemed to be a preferred embodiment of the invention,

1 is a vertical mid-section of the lower portion of a tile roof constructed according to the principles of the invention, tion being along the mid-width of a course of the plane of sectile, as indicated by the line ll on Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is aside elevation of the roofing structure shown in Fig. 1, with. the roof bed removed.

g. 3 is a cross section on line .-'l3 of Fig. 1.

. l is a bottom end view of a pan tile typi- Fig. 5 is a plan view of the tile shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a side view of the tile of Fig. 5.

Fig. 'l is a top end view of type shown in Fig. 1.

cover tile of the Fig. 8 is a plan view of the tile of Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the tile of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a View similar to Fig. 2 except that a modified arrangement of the tile tieing is shown.

Fig. 11 is a view illustrating a method of securing the tile to each other.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a course of cover tapered roofs of In Figs. 4:, 5 and 6 is shown the typical pan tile, said pan tile being of generally arcuate, concavo-convex shape as seen in end elevation, but along its mid-width it has an exterior flattened zone an interior flattened zone 31. *5

Heretofore mission tile have been graduated by changing their shape in such a manner as to reduce the external curvature of the top end ofthe tile to the size of the internal curvature -c lower end thereof. In the tile to which 10 this invention pertains this is not done, but proper fitting together of the tile is obtained by a rlii ferent procedure. This different procedure consists in combining the transverse sectional tapering illustrated in the drawing with the il- 15 lustrated longitudinal tapering as to width.

At each side the typical pan tile 26 also tapers in. thickness from its flattened mid-width portion to each side edge. Said mid-width portion is bounded by the surfaces Ill] and M and is of equal thickness in all parts. Also at each side, said tile it has a straight, inclined edge 35, the narrow end of the the being directed toward the observer in Fig. 4.

Each typical cover tile, designated 24 and 25 2,5 in Fig. 3, is like the typical pan tile in respect to becoming thinner towards each side edge, as viewed in cross-section, but unlike the pan tile it has, along its mid-width, a slight internal angle t8 and a slight external angle 39. Likewise each cover tile has side bevels 350 corresponding to the bevels 3d of the pan tile. The typical cover tile is designated ill in Figs. 7, 8 and 9.

The transverse curvatures of each pan tile are such as to make them interfit closely where they overlap when superimposed in the completed roof structure, and the same is true of the cover tile, in. their relation to each other.

The ten apertures, lettered A5 to 54, shown in the typical pan tile of Figs. 5 and 6 to receive suitable fastening means may, however, be decreased number, if desired, without impairing the usefulness of the tile in most situations. Each typical cover tile, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9 has at least two securing apertures 5'! and 58. All the apertures, both of the pan and cover tile, are kept away from the mid-width of the tile so as to lessen danger of leakage.

The mid-width zone of the pan tile is defined by aforementioned surfaces ill] and 31. Said surfaces may be shaped in a variety of ways without departing from the spirit of the claimed invention. At each side of said mid-width zone each pan tile tapers in thickness to its side edge. Said tile also, as has already been stated, has its side edges so inclined with relation to each other as to taper the tile longitudinally. Upon the shape of the pan tile outside of said mid-width zone depends their adaptability for fitting together in the advantageous manner already described.

An examination of the elevational and sectional showing of the tile in Fig. 3, and of the end views thereof shown in Figs. 4 and 7 will disclose the fact that both the internal and external curvatures of all the tile are being struck from the same length of radius. It is because of this fact that, when the tile are superimposed, either as pan tile or as cover tile (both these superimpositions being shown in Fig. 3), the juxtaposed surfaces contact fully at all points. This novel feature of the invention adds greatly to the strength and stability of the completed roofing structure.

In Fig. 11 is illustrated one of the steps to be taken in an approved method of assembling the tile and securing them to each other. It is desirable that the lacing or securing wires 6i! be first looped through the assembled courses of pan tile as shown in this View each wire which secures two pan tile together being left with upwardly projecting end portions 6| and 62. As the cover tile of Fig. 11 is moved tvwards its proper place one of said projecting wire ends is fed through a corner aperture 58 of said cover tile, and after said cover tile is put into its recumbent position the wire end which projects upwardly therethrough is bent down upon it longitudinally of the tile course, and then the next cover tile will overlie said wire end both concealing it and aiding in keeping it in place. Said wires have their lower ends gripped between pan tile and the roof bed. They will be of a suflicient stiffness to hold the tile securely in their assembled relation. A piece of applied tie wire will assume the shape of the detached piece of wire 60 shown in the left hand portion of Fig. 11, the limbs 60a and Bllb of which respectively join its out bent end portions 6| and 62.

The side cuts 35, 350 along the long edges of the tile may be inclined to any preferred extent, tapering the tile to the degree shown in Fig. 12, if desired. The assembled pan tile 65, 66 and 61 shown in this view could advantageously be used on roofs of steeples, or other tapered or rounded roofs. As has already been explained, to Whatever extent the pan and cover tile are tapered by being cut away along their long edges, the tile will interfit where lapped.

We claim:

1. As an article of manufacture, an arcuate tile of a substantially uniform thickness at all points along its mid-width and of a uniformly diminishing thickness from its mid-width to each of its side edges, said tile diminishing uniformly from one end to the other in its width and the exterior and interior arcuate surfaces of said tile being of the same degree of curvature in all places so that a plurality of said tile with varying degrees of overlap may be superimposed with a matched fit and without there being clearance between convexity and concavity of contiguous tile, thereby causing such tile to present the appearance of a mission tile.

2. As an article of manufacture, an arcuate tile which diminishes progressively in thickness from its mid-width to each of its side edges, a substantial thickness of material remaining at each of said edges, the external arcuate surface of said tile having substantially the same degree of curvature as its internal arcuate surface, said tile tapering uniformly and symmetrically as to its width from one end to the other so that a plurality of said tile with varying degrees of overlap may be superimposed with a matched fit between convexity and concavity of contiguous tile, thereby giving the roofing the appearance of mission tile.

WALTER R. SIMONS. ROY G. BLESSING. 

